Facebook App
As of this Monday, I'll pretty much be stuck in Chicago for awhile - or at least through the Pepsi Showdown. I love to travel, as many know. I've been to Vegas, Playa, Austin, Miami, New Orleans and a few other warm spots since December.
The plan is to head out to Cubs Spring Training for the weekend with some friends and enjoy the final weekend before the first games kickoff Monday. This season, Fridays will be known as "CKicks." If you have something interesting, send it to me. If you don't have my email address, I'm sure you can find it if it's that newsworthy.
I'm a big fan of news and notes, always have been. You know the "get to the point Trost and stop wasting my time" notes. While many people thanked me for flushing the crap out of the Bloomington Ivy Tower this week, that blog was painful for me. It was too long. But luckily, I was able to find a picture of Mickey, Donald and Goofy in the IHSA office to make the blog easier on the eyes.
All right, all right, enough joking around...here's the first installment of CKicks. (Pictured left: Erin Pekovitch)
*As the case is every year for as long as I can remember, Eclipse Select leads all clubs with players committing early. Here are a few players who recently made their college decision:
2009 - Megan Bauer, Indianapolis
2010- Maggie Murnane (bottom right), Dayton; Erin Pekovitch, DePaul; Lynn Froetscher (middle right), Colorado College; Kayla Paoulos (top right), South Carolina.
*Speaking of signings, Huntley senior midfielders Kristina Barreto, Kaylee O'Brien and Lauren Opolony have all decided to continue their soccer careers at Judson University.
Barreto is a three-year letter winner. She plays club for KUFC Premier. O'Brien is a three-year starter and plays club for Crystal Lake Force. Opolony is a two-sport athlete, who also plays basketball.
*I really don't know how to feel about this one. I'm sort of in shock I guess. This Thursday, Naperville Central will take on Young, while Highland Park will battle Lane in a doubleheader at Lane. First things first - OK, I am alive, so this is real.
Wow. Hats off to CPS for helping make this happen. Young coach Ian McCarthy said he had to wear a tutu and sing, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to get Lane Stadium. OK, no he didn't but he said he had to jump through some hoops to make it happen. Kudos to Naperville Central Ed Watson for calling McCarthy to offer the game, and I hope it wasn't because he couldn't find anyone else at the last second. I'm still stunned as I type this.
Now for my thoughts - Young's Jasmine Espino, who also plays for Eclipse Select, better step it up this season. She has an outstanding opportunity to do a number of things. Not only can she help her team be the best in the program's history, but she also has a chance to earn a little respect from playing Naperville Central to open the season and then New Trier a week later in the opening round of the Pepsi Showdown. I've watched Jasmine since she was a freshman and have seen her play probably more than any other player playing this year. I've seen her against suburban teams, city teams, all-star games and at club showcases. Jasmine, this is your moment. Step it up.
On another note, can anyone name Highland Park's starting goalie? If you can, post it. I'm curious if anyone outside Highland Park knows. Trust me, she will open eyes this season.
As for the games, I'm praying Young and Lane can make them respectable.
*The March 25 Naperville doubleheader featuring Naperville Central, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley will be a breast cancer awareness event. All four schools will be wearing special jerseys as well as selling tickets to the Soldier Field Kicks Against Breast Cancer Event. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau at joe_moreau@ipsd.org.
*The Pepsi Showdown boys has added Neuqua Valley, New Trier, Morton, West Chicago and St. Viator to the 2009 field. The tournament will slightly alter its format for the first time since the tournament started in 2004. Like past years, the 32 bracket teams be seeded, but then broken up into World Cup pools by seed. For example, one pool will feature the No. 1, 16, 17 and 32 seeds. The first three days of the tournament - Sept. 8, 10 and 12 - will be pool play, meaning all 32 teams may have a chance to advance to quarterfinal play on Sept. 17. That could make for a very interesting first Saturday at Lyons' Soccer Complex. The semifinals will be Sept. 19 back at Lyons on the second Saturday featuring all teams at one site. The title game will take place Sept. 20 at Toyota Park as part of a doubleheader with the Chicago Fire.
- Joe Trost
Cell Phone Alerts
I won't forget her name. She (HP keeper) is Samantha Barranco. I was lucky to 'coach' her for two hours at the Showcase. She's incredible. Sam, good luck this season.
Is Sam Barranco going to be the Highland Park Goalie?
I know that typically there is a top ten ranking of the teams. I notice that basketball and football have a top 20 ranking. Can you expand the rankings this year? I always feel as if there are more teams out there that need to be recognized because of their legitmate chances to contend. A top 10 seems to restrictive.
Probably won't happen. Baseball, softball and volleyball only have a top 10, too.
Joe, we all recognize your desire to include Rory in every article you write. We get that. Why, though, in this one would you mention Rory before Krissy's actual coach, Ko, and not even indicate that Krissy is and has been trained by Ko at Windy City Pride for years? From this article, most casual readers would probably think that Rory is involved in Ms Dorre's development. Small soccer clubs these days are having a hard time in this economy - - can't you give any program other than Ecliple any credit at all?
Please let us know which High School teams the noted Eclipse players are on so we can see them this Spring.
Why does it matter who is mentioned first, last or in the middle. Come on. Seriously, get over it. I've known Ko for years and Rory for years. They both do a great job. Ko is coaching college again, while Rory was inteview for a WPS head coaching position and is the ID director for U.S. Club Soccer. Seriously, get a life if you are worried about who is mentioned first or last.
I have to agree you really do mention Rory Dames.....A LOT...you may not realize it, be even to a casual observer of your blog, his name is everywhere
Those noted Eclipse players are not playing H.S. They are juniors and have played year round club all three years.
And maybe that's because he's involved in more than you know. Before, it was too much Brian Papa or too much Mike Matkovich or too much this. If you don't like it, don't read. I just solved the problem.
joe-
all of these eclipse girls pictured are great players and work so well together! i believe this is because they all decided to sit out of high school.. why do you think that their team made it to the national finals.. players don't choose to sit out of high school for college.. I personally know that the eclipse girls sit out of high school to grow together as team to become truly great.
I've seen players from Eclipse, Magic and Johnny's Chicken Box teams play high school during the spring, go back to club, play a State Cup game the next morning after the IHSA state tournament and go on and win a national title. There is something to be said about winning a national title, while there also is something to be said about playing for your high school and the local community. Players sit out because of the following: 1. They believe they are going to get better training; 2. They want to play in college showcases during the spring season; 3. They just don't want to play high school. Is there pressure, probably because every high school student feels pressure when they are that age. At the end of the day, they should be enjoy their years and the things they do. I can use my fingers and toes to count the number of players I've covered since 1995 that are now making a living off playing soccer (and it's not a wealthy living at that).
To add to "Soccerloves" comment above, it's no wonder that the Eclipse girls do so well in State Cup each year - - they spend the entire spring training together, working together and competing together. They have months of practice, together, under their belts and they play as a team. In June, they are playing against teams with girls who haven't seen or played with each other for 3 months. Those HS players who make it into the HS State tournament find themselves playing their first Club State Cup game the day after the finals without having an opportunity to practice as a Club team even once. While I don't take anything away from the Eclipse teams who choose to play year-round, your articles don't make it clear to the casual reader that you're discussing apples and oranges when you comment on the successes of Eclipse (and their girls going to college) and virtually every other Club in the state. It's a choice the girls have to make because it's clear that the current system doesn't allow Illinois high school girls to have it all.
As you will read in an upcoming blog, it's only a matter of time before someone sues the IHSA to allow their child to play high school and club at the same time. Public high schools are funded by public tax dollars. It's happened in Texas, and it will happen in Illinois soon, too. With that said, you need to go visit the history books and see that even when year-round club was just beginning, Eclipse was winning State Cups left and right. There is no question it helps to play together all the time, but that's not the reason why Eclipse is winning State Cups. It's called they have the most talent - period.
The idea of having kids play both club and hs in the same season is a horrible idea. The amount of playing would really hurt a teenagers body. I was already glad to see US soccer step in to limit the amout of games for the elite boys clubs and their players. This would be a hs and club coaches nightmare. Which practice or game would they need to go to? Would one take priority over the other?
I agree. I'll have more on this soon. As I've written about before, many states allow it now - club and high school at the same time and it works out fine. But stay tuned.
Trost,
Is Lynn Froetscher playing club this year????? I know she has played high school the past two years but didn't see her on thier roster... I did notice her Eclipse teammate Christy Patterson is playing high school this year for the first time after two years of playing club.
Lynn Froetscher is not playing H.S. this year, but Christy is. They both play for the Eclipse Select 91-92 Team. Lynn is playing club this spring.
Hey Joe, Just read your article on the Pepsi Challenge and thank you for the compliment. Just to let you know where I am @ the present time. After I left the Eclipse I was recruitted by a coach that was putting a team together for the Chicago Fire U-17. It has been so amazing how all the girls have come together in a short period of time, we just returned from Indiana this weekend playing MRL and won all 4 games. We also played some Showcase tournaments and did quite well. I am captain of this team and have a great bunch of girls that respect each other, and give 150 percent. Keep an eye on our progress as we are going strong. Thanks again, Samantha Barranco